Track lubricator



June 2, 1942. M. C. BOLT 2,285,082

TRACK LUBRIGATOR I Filed May 21, 1940 s Sheegs-Sheet 1 June 2, 1942.

M. C. BOLT TRACK LUBRICATOR Filed May 21, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 2, 1942. M. c. BOLT TRACK LUBRICATQR Filed May 21, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 2, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACK LUBRICATOR Malon Bolt, Rarlford, Va., assignor of fortynine one-hundredths to Clisby M. Jennelle,

Radforcl, Va.

Application May 21, 1940, Serial No. 336,481

' 8 Claims. o1.1s4 s) a lubricating means for delivering lubricant to the rails of a trackway in a manner whereby such lubricant may be carried by the wheels of a train a material distance along the trackway thus making it possible for one installation of the apparatus to provide lubrication of the rails as particularly comprised in a plurality of curves in the trackway as often occurs in mountainous districts. 2

The invention has for a further object to provide a lubricating apparatus including a pump operated by the depression of a rail during the passage of rolling stock thereover, together with means coacting with such rail for regulating or controlling the action of the pump;

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved track lubricator whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed. 7

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a lubricating apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention with certain of the parts broken away and the coacting rails of a trackway in section;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken 2 Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 'I'l of Figure 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, R denotes the rails of a trackway. These rails are free of the usual connection with a pair of adjacent cross ties T and the adjacent portion of each of the rails, owing to the inherent resiliency thereof, is normally upwardly spaced from such ties T as more particularly illustrated in Figure 3. This upwardly spaced position of a rail R with respect to these ties T is regulated or varied by the medium of a heavy screw I which threads from above through a flange 2 overlying the outer flange 3 of a rail B. This flange 2 is carried by the inner end portion of a plate 4 resting from above upon a tie T and held thereto by a bolt 5. The bolt 5, as herein disclosed, is directed upwardly through the tie T and the plate 4 and threading upon the portion of the bolt 5 above the plate 4 are the conventional holding nuts 6. A lag screw I is disposed through the outer end portion of the plate 4 and threads into the tie T whereby the plate 4 is effectively held against turning movement around the bolt 5. y

Positioned between the ties, T and substantially bridging the space between the rails R of in grease form. Within the receptacle 8 and above the lubricant 9 therein is a weighted member III which serves as a means for forcing the grease out through the discharge nipple II at 2 the lower portion of the receptacle 8 and which is disposed through the inner wall thereof. This discharge nipple I I is provided at its induction end with a conventional non-return valve I2 operating to allow discharge out through the nipple I I but preventing retrograde flow.

This nipplell is in communication with an inlet port I4 in the side wall of an upstanding cylinder I5 and at the lower end of said cylinder. Also in communication with the lower end portion of this cylinder I5 through the side wall thereof is a carry-off pipe Iii-which leads to and discharges within a manifold I! of desired configuration and capacity but which is entirely housed within the boxing B. This carry-off pipe or line I6 also has interposed therein a'conventional non-return valve l8 which permits flow of grease from the cylinder I5 to the manifold I! but prevents retrograde flow from the manifold l! to said cylinder l5.

Suitably clamped or otherwise held, as indicated at I9, to th inner side of the web portion of each of the rails R is an elongated tubular member 20 closed at its opposite ends. At predetermined points therealong this member 20 carries and has in communication with the interior thereof the nozzle members N to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

In the present embodiment of my invention the upper end portion of the receptacle 8 at opposite sides thereof is provided with the outwardly disposed lugs 2| which overlie the adja: cent top face portions of the ties T, and bolted or otherwise secured thereto whereby the receptacle 8 is effectively held in desired position within the boxing B. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, these lugs 2| are disposed through the adjacent upper marginal portion of the boxing B whereby said lugs serve as a means to maintain said boxing in applied position. Extending upwardly from and in communication with the manifold I'I are a number of pipe lines 22 continued at their upper ends by the laterally disposed pipe extensions 23.

These pipe lines 22 are so arranged as to allow certain of the extensions 23 to be disposed in one direction with the remainder of such extensions disposed in the opposite direction as is particularly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. Coupled to the outer end portions of these pipe extensions 23 are the flexible hose lines 24 which lead to and are coupled to the inwardly disposed nipples 25 carriedby the members 20 at suitably spaced points therealong thereby assuring an even delivery of grease from the manifold I! to the members 26.

Working within the cylinder I5 is the pump plunger or piston 26 provided with an upstanding stem 21 pivotally connected, as at 28, with the lower end portion of a rigid link 29 pivotally connected, as at 30, with an end portion of an elongated lever 3|. The opposite end portion of this lever 3| is pivotally supported, as at 32, between the upstanding bracket arms 33 fixed upon the platform 34 within the end portion of the boxing B remote from the receptacle 8. This platform 34 at its extremities and at opposite sides thereof is provided with the upstanding hanger arms 35 of desired dimensions and which have their upper ends provided with the outwardly disposed lugs 36 resting from above upon the adjacent ties T and secured thereto in any suitable manner. These lugs 36 are also disposed through the adjacent upper portions. of the side walls of the boxing B to provide further means for maintaining said boxing B in desired position. The lever 3|, as is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is supported for swinging movement in a vertical direction and the pivoted end portion thereof is continued by the downwardly and outwardly inclined tail lever 31. v

This lever 3'! is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced openings 38 whereby an end portion of a link 39 may be selectively engaged with said tail lever at a desired point therealong. The opposite end portion of this link 39 is operatively connected with an upwardly and outwardly inclined lever 46. This lever 40 is also provided therealong with a series of spaced open ings 4| whereby the engagement of the link 39 with said lever 40 may be at selected points therealong. The lever 40 at its lower or outer end portion is pivotally mounted, as at 42, between the upstanding bracket arms 43 carried by the platform 34 and said pivoted end portion is provided with the outwardly disposed tail or extension lever 44 in angular relation to the lever 40. The outer end portion of this tail or extension lever 44 is pivotally connected, as at 45, with end portions of the elongated straight levers 46. The opposite end portions of these levers 46 have pivotally connected thereto, as at 41, the short links 48. These links 48 extend upwardly from the levers 46 and are pivotally'connected, as at 49, to the lower end portion of a hanger shank 50. This shank 50 extends upwardly through a cross member or bar 5| bridging the space between the ties T outwardly beyond the adjacent rail R of the trackway and threaded upon said bar 5| is a nut 52 contacting with the bar 5| from above. The portion of a rail R above a lever 46 has tightly clamped to the under face of the base of said rail R a plate 53. This plate 53 is provided with a series of depending spaced lugs 54 which are in alignment in a direction transversely of the plate 53 or, in other words, in a direction lengthwise of the adjacent rail R. These lugs 54 are received between the upstanding lugs 55 carried by the upper edge face of a pedal member 56. This pedal member 56, as herein disclosed, is rectangular in form and disposed through the lugs 54 and 55 is a pintle 5'! whereby the pedal member 56 is suspended for swinging movement in a direction transversely of the trackway.

The dimensions of the pedal member 56 are such as to have the lower margin thereof closely approach the upper edge faces of the levers 46 as particularly illustrated in Figures 2 and 6. Underlying the levers 46 for contact therewith is a cross bar 58 of a length to extend beyond the opposite ends of the pedal member 56. Suitably secured, as at 59, to the extended portions of the cross bar 58 are the lower end portions of the upstanding rigid hangers or rods 66. The upper end portions of these rods 66 are pivotally connected, as at 6|, with the outstanding trunnions 62 carried by the ends of the pedal member 56 in close proximity to the top thereof.

As a train passes over the loosened portions of the rails R the resultant depression of such 1 rails and more particularly the depression of the rail R with which the pedal member 56 is operatively engaged, will cause the lever to swing downwardly with a resultantupward swinging movement of the lever 40. This upward swinging movement of the lever 40 will effect a downward swinging movement of the lever 3| and, of course, a simultaneous downward movement of the plunger 26. This downward movement of the plunger 26 will force the grease or other lubricant out through the line |6 to the manifold I1 and from the manifold I! out through the pipes 22, pipe extensions 23 and hose lines 24 through the tubular members 20 and out from the tubular members 20 through the nozzle members N. a

The grease or other lubricant forced out from the nozzles N will be picked up by the wheels W of the rolling stock and which wheels will effectively spread the grease or other lubricant along the rails for a considerable distance. r

The link 29 as particularly illustrated in Figure 2, carries an enlargement 63 against which bears an end portion of a contractile member 64. The opposite end portion of the member 64 is engaged with the upper head 65 of the cylinder 15. This member 64 as'herein embodied comprises a coil spring encircling the adjacent portions of the stem 2! and link 29. For example, if a train should be fifty cars including a locomotive, the front truck of the locomotive will eiiect a depression of the plunger or piston 26 as would the rear truck of the last car of the train but between the locomotive and the last car of the train there will be only fifty depression of the plunger or piston 26 or, in other words, as a train passes over the raised portions of the rails R the plunger or piston will be caused to operate a number of times equal to the number of cars in the train plus two.

It is to be particularly pointed out that any give on the part of the ties T is not required to make the pumping mechanism effective and, therefore, there is eliminated any hinderance or obstruction which would be given to the effectiveness of the apparatus in the event the ties should be .rigidly frozen or otherwise fixedly held. The operation of the pump is dependent only upon the flexibility of the disconnected portion of a track rail. It is to be further pointed out that the operative connection between the levers 46 and the flexing portion of a rail R is such to readily compensate for such expansion and contraction as may occur. It is also to be pointed out that this particular operative connection is one which will readily compensate for the strain set up when traflic is passing over the rail and which is particularly due to the factthat the and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a trackway including a rail having a portion normally upwardly flexed, said portion of the rail being depressed by wheels of a train passing thereover, a member arranged to direct lubricant in the general direction of the throat of a flanged car wheel travelling along the trackway, meansoperated by depression of the rail for forcing the lubricant from said member, a flange'mounted to one side of the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail and overlying the flange of the rail and a vertically adjustable stop member carried by said flange and contacting from above the flange of the upwardly flexed portion of the rail to limit the extent of said upward flexure.

2. In combination with the rails of a trackway and adjacent ties thereunder, one of the rails being free of connection with the ties and normally upwardly flexed, a pump positioned between the railspf the trackway including a cylinder and a reciprocating piston therein, a reservoir deliveringwithin the cylinder in advance of the'piston,

above through this nipple 6'! is a sleeve 68,

Snugly fitting within the sleeve 68 but free for sliding movement therethrough is a stem 69 formed at its upper end to provide a nozzle head 10 provided with an elongated discharge orifice H. This orifice 1! causes the grease to be discharged out through the stem 69 in a ribbon-like form. I

The stem 69 is of a length in excess of the length of the sleeve 68 and threaded upon the lower or inserted end portion of the stem 69 is a nut 12 providing a stop member whereby is limited the extent of upward movement of the stem 69. This stem 69 is constantly urged toward the limit of its upward movement by the expansible member 13 herein disclosed as a coil spring interposed between the inserted end of the stem 69 and the opposed wall portion of the sleeve 66. Each of the stems 69 is normally supported by the member or spring 13 so that the-discharge therefrom will be in the general direction of the throat of a flanged car wheel W. The head it is positioned closely alongside the rail head at such an elevation that the flanges of normal car wheels remove the lubricant as discharged out through the orifice H without actually striking the nozzle head Til. However, the spring l3readily permits a downward or yielding movement of the stem 69 when the. flanges of Worn wheels may strike the head 10.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a track lubricator constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience elongated lever underlying the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail of the trackway,

means at the outer side of said rail for supporting said second lever for swinging movement, an operative connection between both of the levers to provide means to swing the first lever to impose pressure strokes on the piston upon downward swinging movement of the second lever, a

"pedal member contacting from above with the second lever, means for pivotally connecting said pedal member with the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail for swinging movement in a direction lengthwise of said second lever, a cross bar underlying the second lever, rigid hangers secured to said cross barv at opposite sides of the second lever, and means for pivotally connecting the hangers with the opposite end portions of the pedal member.

3. In combination with the rails of a trackway and adjacent ties thereunder, one of the rails being free of connection with the ties and normally upwardly flexed, a pump positioned between the rails of the trackway including a cyl inder and a reciprocating piston therein, a reservoir delivering within the cylinder in advance of the piston, means operating upon the pressure stroke of the piston for directing lubricant in the general direction of the throat of a flanged car wheel travelling on a rail of the trackway, an elongated lever, means for supporting the same for swinging movement, means for operativ'ely engaging said lever with the piston of the pump, a second elongated lever underlying the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail of thetrackway, means at the outer side of said rail for supporting said second lever for swinging movement,

an operative connection between both of the levers to provide means to swing the first lever to impose pressure strokes on the piston upon downward swinging movement of the second lever, a pedal member contacting from above with the second lever, means for pivotally connecting said pedal member with the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail for swinging movement in a direction lengthwise of said second lever, a cross bar underlying the second lever, rigid hangers secured to said cross bar at opposite sides of the second lever, and means for pivotally connecting the hangers with the opposite end portions of the pedal member, the operative connection between the two levers being adjustable toselectively regulate the movement of the piston of the pump by the swinging movement of the levers.

4. A rail and wheel lubricating device, comprising a box for placement between the rails of a trackway, a reservoir within said box, a pump including a cylinder carried by a wall of the reservoir and in communication with the reservoir, a piston reciprocating within the cylinder, means for carrying the lubricant forced from the cylinder upon movement of the piston in onedirection, in the general direction of the throat of a flanged wheel riding on a rail of the trackway, a lever within the box, means supported by the box for pivotally mounting said lever at a point intermediate the ends of the lever, means for operatively connecting one end portion of said lever with the plunger, a second lever within the box, means carried by the box for pivotally mounting said second lever at a point interme diate its ends, both of said levers having adjacent end portions substantially in overlying relation, a link connecting said end portions of the levers, an elongated lever operatively engaged with the end portion of the second lever remote from the first lever, said third lever extending outwardly beyond the box and underlying a rail of the trackway, means for pivotally mounting the outer end portion of said third lever, and means depending from the rail engaging the third lever from above and below to swing said third lever upon indulation of the rail thereabove by wheels of a train passing thereover, the downward swinging movement of the third lever transmitting swinging movement to the first two levers to move the piston within the cylinder of the pump in a direction to force the lubricant therefrom.

5. A rail and wheel lubricating device, comprising a box for placement between the rails of a. trackway, a reservoir within said box, a pump including a cylinder carried by a wall of the reservoir and in communication with the reservoir, a piston reciprocating within the cylinder, means for carrying the lubricant forced from the cylinder upon movement of the piston in one direction, in the general direction of the throat of a flanged wheel riding on a rail of the trackway, a lever within the box, means supported by the box for pivotally mounting said lever at a point intermediate the ends of the lever, means for operatively connecting one end portion of said lever with the piston, a second lever within the box, means carried by the box for pivotally mounting said second lever at a point intermediate its ends, both of said levers having adjacent end portions substantially in overlying relation, a link connecting said end portions of the levers, an elongated lever operatively engaged with the end portion of the second lever remote from the first lever, said third lever extending outwardly beyond the box and underlying a rail of the trackway, means for pivotally mounting the outer end portion of said third lever, means depend- 5 ing from the rail engaging the third lever from above and below to swing said third lever upon indulation of the rail thereabove by wheels of a train passing thereover, the downward swinging movement of the third lever transmitting swinging movement to the first two levers to move the piston within the cylinder of the pump in a direction to force the lubricant therefrom, and the means for pivotally mounting the second and third levers comprising a platform within the box and engaged with opposed walls of the box.

6. In combination with a trackway including a rail having a portion normally upwardly flexed, said portion of the rail being depressed by wheels of a train passing thereover, a pump arranged to direct lubricant in the general direction of the throat of a flanged car wheel traveling along 7 the trackway, an operating means for the pump including a swinging lever underlying the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail, a pedal member contacting from above with the lever, and means for pivotally connecting said pedal member with the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail for swinging movement in a direction lengthwise of the lever, depression of the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail by wheels of a train passing thereover operating through the contact of the pedal with the lever to move the lever in a direction to operate the pump.

'7. In combination with a trackway including a rail having a portion normally upwardly flexed,

said portion of the rail being depressed by wheels of a train passing thereover, a pump arranged to direct lubricant in the general direction of the throat of a flanged car wheel traveling along the trackway, an operating means for the pump including a swinging lever underlying the nor mally upwardly flexed portion of the rail, a pedal member contacting from above with the lever, means for pivotally connecting said pedal member with the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail for swinging movement in a direction lengthwise of the lever, depression of the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail by wheels of a train passing thereover operating through the contact of the pedal with the lever to move the lever in a direction to operate the pump, and a stirrup pivotally connected with the pedal and underlying the lever.

8. In combination with a trackway including a rail having a portion normally upwardly flexed, said portion of the rail being depressed by wheels of a train passing thereover, a pump arranged to direct lubricant in the general direction of the throat of a flanged car wheel traveling along the, trackway, means operated by depression of the rail for operating the pump including a lever underlying the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail, pivotally connected members between which the lever is directed, said members contacting from above and below with the lever, and means for pivotally connecting one of the members with the normally upwardly flexed portion of the rail for swinging movement in a direction lengthwise of the lever, the relative pivotal movement of the members being also in a direction lengthwise of the lever.

MALON C. BOLT. 

